Okay, I'm not understanding what the big deal is about a LEASH specifically... Am I missing something? Don't most breeders have large yards where dogs are exercised? The ones I know have... So why leash?

Double post... And I didn't do it either, my computer just posted twice with one click!

well I just wanted to let everyone know about it. I don't think its fair but if it doesn't effect you or someone you know then I guess it doesn't matter. It is a sad day when people are required by law to treat their dogs better than their kids. thanks.

Brandon

 Quote: Brandon Hutchins

give them an inch they take a mile. The problem is this will only lead to stricter laws. puppy mills and kennels are two separate things and lumping them together is not right.these laws are backed by organizations that do not want pet ownership allowed and they take what they can get until one day nobody can have a dog without paying a large fee. I didn't use to think like this but I see it happening.

another problem is that if someone has built there kennel a foot to short or narrow the whole kennel would have to be rebuilt how many kennel owners have that kind of spare cash around? The exercise issue is only an issue with bird dog owners(the guy who wrote the posts trains bird dogs)there time with the dogs is in the field off leash.Most trainers don't have the time to spend an additional 20 minutes per dog being a dog walker nor is that adequate exercise for a sporting dog.

This is just a way for the anti dog groups to gain an inch while your not looking. here is a link to a site that has quotes from leaders of the organizations that write and push these types of laws and it shows you were they are heading with it.

http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/animalrightsquote.htm#Own

Brandon, I'll read the link you provided. In the meantime, I want to say I do understand the concerns the changes can cause a good and upright breeder and the last thing that's needed is a good breeder to go out of business because it becomes cost prohibitive. It's too bad, like you said, that good breeders are lumped with puppy mills.

It seems like a law to prevent crime always ends up targeting the people who kept the initial laws with no previous problem. Happens a lot and is disgusting to me. My thoughts are that most laws are made ridiculous and extreme by the very fact that there are not enough people to enforce them. For instance, instead of visiting all the breeders to see the conditions and deciding if dogs are well taken care of based on what they see (reasonably varying kennel sizes included), they write a law trying to make everyone out the bad guy.

I understand the 20 minute exercise requirement (again, for the puppy mills and creepy breeders), but to demand it be on a leash is, IMO, ridiculous. There's no way an owner of a puppy mill wouldn't just keep a false record of having given the dogs/pups 20 minutes of exercise. That would be hard to enforce. All they would have to do is write down that they did it. But they would for sure be forced out of business just by the requirements of kennel sizes.

It's a 2 edged sword. Laws are made for those with no conscience and since some laws are so invasive, they make criminals out of all of us, instead of just the ones they were trying to target.

As far as I can see the proposed law needs a little tweaking. I would like to hear the opinions of the proffesional breeders here

 Quote: Dennis Jones

As far as I can see the proposed law needs a little tweaking. I would like to hear the opinions of the proffesional breeders here

Me too.

Prices will raise for law abiding citizens as they strive to meet regualtions and puppy mill prices will drop, becoming more appealing to pet store owners, and then buyers. In turn puppy mills will grow along with the stores who buy the cheaper pups. Do you know how easy it is to photoshop a document. It is easy to fake doc's no matter how hard they try to stop it. They can't watch everyone's every move. Names change, businesses dissappear, move and animals get sold without anyone noticing.

Yes, animal welfare is important and on the line, but education is the answer! -not laws like these and the BLS laws that are trying to force people to becoming more responsible. Stupid people are still stupid, they just have to find new ways to be stupid. Education causes people to become more responsible. Sorry if I sound pretty extreme. I have seen the effects from bad laws locally and it just hides the real animals in need of help from the public.

You don't sound extreme at all, and make good points, but I doubt education will help creeps do the right thing. Unless education can change the conscience of a person (and I've not seen it do that in all my years), I don't see it helping.

Pensylvania is the puppymill capital of the world. Good for them in taking steps to ensure that kennels are treating dogs well. There should be more regulation in dogs. Just look at the crap most breeders are producing. The AKC can't do it so its up to states and local government. By the way I wonder how Ed feels about this. I'll bet that the new regulations are well below his standards.

Jason,

I totally agree with you. I think the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has no choice but to implement and enforce new laws regarding dogs. I'm not sure what the idea of a leashed walk for 20 minutes a day exactly is compared to free exercise unleashed on secured property though. This may have been added to ensure a dog is exercised and to maintain leash laws, not sure though.

Kim